Vaccines kill two children every year

TWO children a year die after routine vaccinations, research has shown.

In some cases the Government has awarded parents up to £100,000 under its Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979. In others, post mortem examin­ations concluded that the injection was the most likely cause of death.

The figures, compiled by vaccine damage support group Jabs, come in the wake of last month’s decision by the General Medical Council that Dr Andrew Wakefield, who sparked the MMR controversy, acted “dishonestly and irresponsibly”. The research also found that it has become more difficult to get compensation for vaccine damage despite no drop in the number of children being affected.

There were 970 payments made between 1979 and 1994, about 65 a year, to parents of damaged children.

Since then there have been only 28 payments, approximately two successful claims a year. Critics say this is because the criteria for making a claim have become so strict. Peter Fletcher, former chief scientific officer for the Department of Health, is demanding an overhaul of the payment system.

He said: “We need to point out in easy language that vaccines have always had a level of adverse effects.

“However, it is hard to meet the standard of proof to win compensation and awards have been miserly.”

Julie Roberts, 40, whose daughter Stacey died after an MMR jab, said: “The Government should take responsibility. It has never given proper warnings of the risk and still doesn’t despite the evidence.”